Furnace-grate structure



May 22, 1928.

J. VAN BRUNT FURNACE QRATE STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 16, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet l UUUUUE @UQUEU INV TOR May 22, 1928. I 1,670,642

J. VAN BRUNT FURNACE GRATE STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 16 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT R W A'ITORNE .r

May 22, 1928.

J. VAN BRUNT FURNACE GRATE STRUCTURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 16, 1923 May 22,1928.

J. VAN BRUNT FURNACE GRATE STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 16, 1923 4 Sheets$heet 4 INVENTQR W ATTORNEYJ I and with Patented May 22, 1928. i

JOHN VAN'BRUNT, 0F FLUSHING, NEW YORK,ASSIG1\TOR TO COMBUSTION ENGINEER- ING- CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., AOORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

FURNACE-GRATE STRUCTURE.

Application filed October 16, 1923. Serial No. 668,841.

My invention relates to furnace grate structures, and has special reference to such structures of the chain grate type.

An object of the inventionis to provide a chain grate of novel and improved construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a chain grate which may be easily assembled and taken apart and which may be easily extended to any desired width.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide novel and improved means for mounting the carrier bars of a chain grate on the sprocket chains.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel and improved means for securing a fuel supporting member of a grate, particularly of a chain grate, to its support.

Another object'of the invention is to provide means for mounting the fuel supporting keys of a chain grate on their carrier bars whereby the keys may be easily re moved and replaced without interrupting the operation of the grate. I

With these and other objects in view, the

features of the invention consist in certain.

constructions, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed, the advantages of which will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

The several features of the invention will be clearly understood from the following description and accompanying drawings, in which,

F igure 1 is a plan view, partly in section parts removed, of a portion of a chain grate embodying the features of the invention in their preferred form;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the rear end portion of the grate showing a portion ofa driving sprocket wheel thereof, the section being taken substantially on the line 22 of Figs. 1 and 3;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional plan view, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the grate illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view, partly in elevation, taken on the line ts of Fig. 2; j

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional elevation taken on the line 66 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view similar to a portion of Fig. 2 but showing a modified form of means for securing the ends of carrier bars to one of the sprocket chains;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 88' of Fig. 7; Y

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 7 but showing another modified form;

Figs 10 andll are sectional views taken on the lines 101O and 11 11, respectively, of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a detail view in perspective of a component part of the construction illustrated in Fig. 7 and Fig. 13 is a similar view of the correspond- 1 vided with similar fuel supporting portions 6. The outer end portions 6' of-the carrier bars of I each outer section are mounted upona sprocket chain 8, and the adjacent fuel supporting portions't of the bars of each two adjacent sections are mounted on a sprocket chain 10. The fuel supporting portions 4 of each section are arrangedendto end, and the lower portion of the rear or left end, viewing Fig. 2 of each portion is'provided with arearward projection or apron 12 which extends under a forward projectionlet on the forward end of the succeeding head, the

grate traveling in the direction of the ar-' row shown in Fig. 2. Each carrier bar 2 is provided with 'a web 16 extending between the fuel supporting'portions on the ends thereof upon which are'supported, as

hereinafter described, a series of fuel sup porting keys 18 which extend longitudinally of the grate and are arranged side by side with their top surfaces in the plane of the top surfaces of the fuel supporting portions t'and 6. The keys 18 supported on adjacent carrier bars of each section are"a rranged end to end, and the lower portion of the rear end of [each key is provided with a rearward projection or apron that extends beneath a projection 21 on the forward end of the succeeding key.

In the illustrated construction novel and improved meansis provided for securing the carrier bar portions 4to their supporting a well known manner to sprocket chains 10 whereby the carrier bars may be easily removed and replaced and the width of the grate easily extended asdesired, each portion 6 being detachably secured in its associated sprocket chain 8. As shown each sprocket chain '10 is made up of links 22, each comprising side members 24 which are spaced apart except for their forward ends which are brought together and are positionedbetween the rear ends of the side members of the preceding link,'the linksbeing piv'otally connected by means of pivot pins 26. A carrier -block'28 is ,pivotally -mounted on each vforward walls of the recesses 86. The under sides of the rear end portions of the'lugs 34 are provided with downwardly and forward- ,ly inclined slots 40 and the rear end walls of each portion 4 is provided with a down wardly and forwardly inclined squared aperture 42. A pin 44 which is squarein cross-section extendsthrough each aperture '42 with its inner end inserted in'the slot .40, the upper side of the inner end portion of the pin being bevelled oti'so as to fit the upper wall-of the slot. The outer end of each pin-44 is spaced a slight distance from the outer end of its aperture 42 and the outer endof the upper wall of the aperture is cut away at-45 to permit access to the head of the pin, the outer end of the aperture 42 being spaced above the apron 12.

'With'this construction it will be apparent that the f pins 44 by engagement with the walls of the slots 40 cooperate with thelugs 34 and 38 to provide a dove-tail connection that securely holds the portions 4 in'place.

In the illustrated construction means is .provided for securely holding the pins 44 in .position, but permitting them to be-easily removed and replaced. As shown; this means comprises-metal strips 46 each having one end.,.portion 48 bent at right angles. The strips 46 are inserted in the apertures 42 previously to inserting the pins 44, and their ends 48'are each hooked over a shoulder 5O constituting'the 'rear wall of an aperture leading downwardly "fromthe bottom wall outer end of the strip 46 is bent upwardly at right angles over the outer end or head of the locking pin'so as tosecurely hold the pin in place. To remove the locking pin 44"trom the aperture -it is only necessary to bend m backthe outer end of the strip 46 from the head of ,thepin, whereupon the pin may be easily pulled outwardly a 'su'ificient distance to disengage it from the pivoted block 28,

'the outer end of the pin'bein'g provided with t a shoulder 51 to. permit a suitable implement tobe employed in removing thepin. Itwill be apparent that the construction is such that a'locking pin "may be retracted out'joi engagement with the pivoted block 28 while the carrier'bar is passing over one of'the sprocket wheels 52 of. the grate, the overlapping relation of the adjacent ends of the bar portions 4 permitting this to'be accomplished as indicated in Fig. 2, the retracted position of a locking pin being indicated by broken lines in this figure. The arrangement of the locking pin 44 with its head positioned at the rear endof'the'fuel supporting heads 4 and covered by the projecting end or the succeeding fhead, efiectively prevents the burningtuel from coming into contact with the head of the pin.

In Figs. 1, 5 and 6 there is illustrated means for securing the keys'18 on the carrier bars 2, whereby the keys may be easily removed and replaced without interrupting the operation of the grate. As shown, this means comprises supporting bars 54, each of which is secured on the web 16, extending between the fuel supporting end portions of each carrier bar, by means of bolts 56 ex-' tendingthrouglrapertures in the bar 54 and through slots 58 in the web '16. Each bar 54 has dove-tail projections 60fon its'longi- 'tudinal edges, 1 and one-end of the bar is spaced a distancetrom one of'the fuel supporting'portions 4 of the associated carrier bar 2. The fuel supportingkeys 18, above referred to, are of a width less than said space between the end of the bar 54 and'sa-i'd portion 4, and each key is'pro'videdwith a transverse notch 62 on its under side so-as to permit'the keys of each carrier bar-2 to be successively passed throughsaidspace and threaded over the dove'-tail "bar"54 and into side'by side-relation on the bar.

In order to hold-the keys '1'8'froin sli'p ping oif of said spaced endot'their supporting'bar 54, a key 64 is 'providedi'or filling the space between the last key 18 and the adjacent-fuel supporting portion 4, and

means is provided for securely locking the placed over the end of the bar 54 projecting from the last key 18 thereon, the dovetail projection 68 engaging beneath the corresponding projection on the forward longitudinal edge of the bar 54. The means for securing each key 64 in position comprises a pin 70 corresponding to the locking pin 44 of the carrier bar heads 4. The pin 8 70 is inserted through an aperture 72 in the rear end wall of the key 64 so as to position its inner end in engagement with the under side of the clove-tail projection 00 on the rear longitudinal edge of the supporting bar 54, the pin 7-0 cooperating with the dove-tail projection 68 to hold the key 64 in place. The pin 70 is removably secured in position by means of a locking strip 74 corresponding to thelocking strip 46 of the pin 44, the strip 74 having its inner end bent at right angles so as to engage a shoulder 76 constituting the rear wall of an aperture leading from the aperture 72 and having its outer end bent upwardly at right angles over the head of the pin 70. The keys 64 are each provided on their rear end with a rearward projection or apron'76 which underlies a forward projection 7 8 on the forward end of the succeeding key the projections 76 and 7 8 corresponding to the projections 20 and 21, respectively, of the keys 18.

With this construction it will be apparent that as a row of keys and their carrier bar 2 are passing over a sprocket wheel of the grate, that a sufficient space is provided between adjacent ends of the keys 64 to permit the pin 70 to be retracted a suflicient distance, as indicated in Fig. 5, to be disengaged from the dove-tail bar 54 so as to permit the keys 64 to be removed and replaced, and in case one of the keys 18 becomes brokena new key may be slipped over the end of the bar and into position, and such removal and replacement of both the keys 18 and 64 may be accomplished without interrupting the operation of the grate. The outer ends of the pins 70'are positioned below the fuel supporting sur faces of the keys 64 and are well protected from the burning fuel by the forward projections 78 on the succeeding keys so that the danger of clinkers forming over the ends of the pins is reduced to a minimum.

Figs. 7, 8 and 12. illustrate means, of a slightly different construction from that illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, for securing the adjacent ends of two carrier bars to one of the sprocket'chains 10 These carrier bars which are indicated at 80 are provided with fuel supporting port-ions 82 on their adjacent ends which are similar to the portlons 4. As shown this means comprises a supporting'bloc k 84 having its lower end pivotally mounted on. the pivot pin 32 of a link of the chain 10, and having 1ongitudinally extending ribs 86 on its upper portion which project into recesses inthe under sides of the portions82, respectively. The forward ends of the ribs 86 are provided with transverse slots 88 which receive rearwardly projecting lugs 90 on the forward walls of the recesses in the portions 82, and the rearward ends of the ribs 86 are provided with transverse slots 92'which receive the inner ends'of locking pins 94 which extend through apertures 96 in the outer longitudinal walls of the portions 82, the pins 94 cooperating withthe lugs 90 to hold the portions 82 in position on the pivoted block 84. The pins 94 are removablyheld in position by means of metal strips 98 which are similar to the'strips-46 of the locking pins 44, each of them having their inner ends bent atright angles and engaging a shoulderlOO constituting a wall ofan aperture leading from the aperture 96 and angles over the outer end or head of the pin, the inner position of the pins being limited by stop portions 82.

In the constructionillustrated in Figs. 9, 10 11 and 13 the means for securing adjacent ends of two carrier bars to'the sprocket chain 10 comprises a block 102 having its lower portion pivotally mounted .on the pivot pin 32' of a link of the chain and having its upper portion projecting into recesses 104 in the under sides of fuel supporting heads 106 of these carrier bars. The upper end of the forward side ofthe block 102 is provided with forwardly projecting lugs 108 that extend over rearwardly projeoting lugs 110 on the rearwall of the recesses 104, and the rear portion of the block lugs 101 formed on the 102 is provided with a forwardly projecting lug 112 that extends over rearwardlyprojecting lugs 114 on the -wall of the recesses 104. 'The'upper portion of the rear 'side'of the block 102 is engaged by pins -11-6,-that extend through apertures 118 in As will-be evident :to those skilled in the art myinvention permits ,of-various modifications Without departing from the spirit thereof or'the scope ofthe appended claims.

lVhat I claim is: v I

1. A furnace grate structure having, in combination, a fuel supporting member having a recess in its under side andtan aperiture, a support for said member having a portion thereof extending into said recess and provided with azprojection, one wall of said recess having a projection extendingbenea'th the projection on saidsupport, a pin removably inserted ti'irough said aperture and into engagement with saidsupport so as toicooperate with said projections todetachably secure said fuel supportingn'iember on said support, and means fordetachably :seeuring said'pin in position comprising a member having aportion extending over'the .outer end of said pin and adapted to be dis- .placed from-saidposition to permitremoval vof the v.pin. v

2. :A furnace grate structure having, in

' -combination, a fuel supporting member hav- .ing an aperture thereinia support therefor, and means for detachably securing said fuel supporting member on said support com- ;prisinga pin inserted through said aperture in'the fuel supporting member and into position to engage said support, and means 'fo'rholding said pin. in position comprising a member having one'end extending into and secured in said aperture and having its other end bent over the outer end Of-Sflld pin.

3. A furnace grate structure having, in combination, a-fuel-supporting member having an aperture therein with the wall of :saidapertureprovided with a shoulder, a support therefor, and means for detachably securingsa-id fuel supporting member on said support comprising :a pin inserted =through said aperture in said fuel supporting member and into position toengage said 'ner end positioned adjacent a portion \of support, and means for-holding said pin in position comprising a metal strip having one end bent at an angle, inserted a distance through said aperture and hooked over said shoulder, and having its outer end bent over the outer end of said pin.

4; A traveling grate having,in combination, carrier bars arranged end to end :and extending trans'versely'of the grate, adjacent carrier bars having fuel supporting portions on their adjacent endsyandeach 'ofsaid por- 'tions having a recess in 1ts unders1de, a .chain for supporting adjacentends of said bars, and connections between said bars and said chain comprising a block pivotally mounted on said chain and extendinginto the recesses inbo'th of said adjacent portionsyand means forsecuring said portions to said block.

5. A- traveling grate having, .in combination, an elongated fuel supporting member extending longitudinally of thegratelhaving a recess in its under side, a support extending into said recess, said memberhavin v:an aperture in one end, and a pin extending .through said aperture havin its outerend spaced a distance below tthenf ueltsupportin'g surface -.of said member and having its 1n- .ner end positioned inengagement with said support, an upper portion, ofthe outer end of the .wall of said aperture being cut away to enable access tobe had-to the headoff said pin. I

6. A furnace grate structure having, in combination, a fuel supporting member'jhaving an aperture therein, the Wall of said .end of said, strip being bent over the outer end of saidpin.

7. A furnace grate structure hav1ng,,1n

combination, a fuel supporting memberhaving-an aperture therein, a support forsa d member, and means for securing saidmem- (her to said support, comprisingapin inserted through said aperture with its insaid support and means for detachably securing said pin in position comprising ;.a member having one end portion secured win said apertureand having its outer end por- .tion engaging the outer end of said'pin :and

adapted to be displaced from said position topermit removalrof the pin.

JOHN VAN BRUNT. 

